“What it looks like?” I finish for him. “Funny, that’s exactly what people say when it’spreciselywhat it looks like.”
“Actually”—Venetta purrs—“it’s exactly what it looks like—the successful conclusion of a business transaction.”
“Is that what we’re calling it now?” I cross my arms, partly from anger and partly because the wind off the ocean is freezing. “Well, I hope you both fall off a cliff! Preferably a tall one. With jagged rocks at the bottom. And possibly sharks.”
Go Hattie!Cricket cheers while Rookie groans by her side.
Venetta tilts her head and her expression suggests she finds my meltdown entertaining rather than intimidating.
She wrinkles her nose at me. “I can see you two have some things to discuss.” She turns to Killion. “If things don’t work out between you two, call me. I’ll save some pie for you tonight.” She winks his way and sashays off across the sand with the sassy stride of someone who knows they’re leaving chaos in their wake.
For a long moment, Killion and I just stare at each other as the wind howls around us like it’s providing a soundtrack to a particularly dramatic scene in a movie—a horror movie. Or more to the point, a Thanksgiving tragedy.
I shake my head at him. “Whatever explanation you’re about to give”—my chest bucks with pain—“it better be good. Olympic-level good. OrI was secretly saving orphans and puppiesgood.”
“I’m moving,” he says simply.
Of all the things I expected him to say, this wasn’t even on the list. “You’re... moving?”
I kept the secret! I kept the secret!Rookie dances in circles around our feet with his tail wagging like a metronome on caffeine.I get a bone! I didn’t tell about the boxes or the new house or ANYTHING!
“Yes, I’m moving,” Killion confirms, running a hand through his hair in that nervous gesture I find unreasonably attractive even when I’m furious with him. “My landlord in Pelican Cove is selling the house. They’re tearing it down to build a parking lot.”
“A parking lot?” I give a half-hearted laugh, and I can feel the anger in me starting to deflate like a soufflé removed from the oven too soon.
He nods with a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “But I found a place, right here in Brambleberry Bay.”
“You’ll be close to me!” I surge forward before I can stop myself.
“Closer than you think.” He winces slightly as if he’s about to confess to something embarrassing. “I hope you don’t mind, but I found a place in Moonlit Meadows.”
“That’s where I live!” The words burst out of me far too loud for the short distance between us.
“I know.” His smile grows at the thought. “I found a place right next door to you.”
“Right next door!” I shout, twice as loud as before, jumping up and down in a display that says I have no ability to regulate my emotions. And I think we all know that’s true. “Wait.” I stop suddenly as confusion cuts through my joy. “What does any of this have to do with Venetta?”
“She’s been moonlighting as a real estate agent. And regrettably, I chose to employ her as such.” He’s back to wincing.
“That’s why you’ve been meeting with Venetta? She’s your real estate agent?”
He nods. “That’s right. She’s the one who showed me the cabin. Trust me, it wasn’t my first choice to work with her, but she responded to my inquiry immediately. I had less than thirty days, and I was desperate.” He takes a step closer. “I wanted to surprise you. That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you for days, but the timing kept getting interrupted.”
“But I saw you at the cabin with her. At night.”
“She was showing me the property. The only time that worked with both our schedules was after her spa shift and my patrol.”
The pieces start clicking into place—the boxes in the photo he sent, his mysterious behavior, the secretive meetings.
“So all this time, you weren’t... I mean, you and Venetta weren’t...”
“Weren’t what?” His brow furrows in genuine confusion, and then understanding dawns. “Wait, you thought Venetta and I were... romantically involved?”
Put like that, it suddenly seems absurd. I nod sheepishly.
“Hattie.” He steps close enough that I can feel the warmth radiating from him despite the chill wind. “The only woman I’m interested in moving closer to is you. Although I’m starting to think even next door isn’t close enough.”
“Oh Killion, we’re not breaking up?” The question slips out before I can stop it, vulnerability cracking my voice.
